I rode about 700 miles of asphalt and gravel in NNC, NGa and TN this weekend. All the roads were excellent and for the most part, clean. The weather should be excellen for the weekend. I made it back over to Tryon last night. We had three of our riders get helecoptered out to Knoxville and Asheville, please read "The Pace" before you start your rally ride and arrive safely. I'm on my way to visit one of our downed brothers in the hospital this afternoon. The got his 3 break arm and his collar bobone set yesterday. They had to get his 2 collapsed lungs to a point where he could take the surgery. He was just ahead of me on 28 just east of Deal's Gap. A R1200RT rider that wasn't part of our group crossed over the yellow in a giant sweeper and hit one of our female riders and her boyfriend head-on. All three are in Knoxville. She was very close to losing one of her hands according to the doctor. Take care.

Shheet Bubba! Very sorry to hear about the accident and the riders involved -the coming at y'all outa control..Bad decision making..
Alway Identify Predict and Execute for survival on a bike and if colision seems imminent go to the out you have given yourself. Stay away from packs and dumb people in cars trucks or on bikes>>
But the weather does look good!

Awful. People riding over their abilities is the main reason I dislike group rides. 5 bikes, tops, and even then it happens. So sorry for everyone involved. Glad you did not get collected In the mayhem Bubba, good on ya.

OK, I'm in. Leaving Chapel Hill, Thursday afternoon and riding to Western NC. I'll noodle my way to Hiawassee, by late Friday afternoon. Probably do a Pelican ride Saturday and then skedaddle home Sunday to celebrate my wedding anniversary that evening.
or maybe it's more like this...

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"It is difficult to get the news from poems, yet men die miserably every day from lack of what is found there" WC Williams

Awful. People riding over their abilities is the main reason I dislike group rides. 5 bikes, tops, and even then it happens. So sorry for everyone involved. Glad you did not get collected In the mayhem Bubba, good on ya.

N.

Ya know, this brings up a good point.

I usually don't like riding performance bikes with other people. Often times you have big competitive egoes that can induce a person into doing things that prudence would prevent in non-competitive situations. On the race track, that may be fine. But, on regular roads with unknown surprises perhaps lurking around the corner, it can be a dangerous thing.

I like riding fast curves and if you check the tires on my 12S or any other bike, my chicken strips are probably pretty narrow. However, I am not going to be goaded or induced to outrun somebody I'm riding with on the street. In fact, when running with another person on a fast bike, I tend to slow down !

I would advise against running unfamiliar roads at speed when you are alone. Verizon can reach most places in WNC, NGa and TN; however, there are many places where you have no service for long periods of time. If you run off the road alone, you may not get found. Run your on pace and always know the way home and carry a map even if you do rely on GPS. GPS can fail. Oh yeah, let someone know where you're going. Business is booming at the trauma centers up here right now. Here's a photo of the medieval choppers last weekend on the skyway. NOTE: The ambulance had to drive the skyway BEFORE the choppers got called in. That takes allot of time. A good leader takes care of his wingmen. If it's catch me if you can he's a solo pilot.

Darnit, weather has taken a turn for the worse between here and Hiawassee and looks like 50%+ rain up there over the weekend. I had the BMW loaded to go camp but now Im switching and taking the H-D to St. Augustine.

Darnit, weather has taken a turn for the worse between here and Hiawassee and looks like 50%+ rain up there over the weekend. I had the BMW loaded to go camp but now Im switching and taking the H-D to St. Augustine.

Today was perfect riding. So much for you guys who let the bad forecasters ruin your plans. Over 500 here and the chile was great. I'm enjoying a good glass of vino and a cigar. Lots of Florida folk are here. Haven't seen many Pelicans.
I'll be serving pancakes In the AM. Ce buy some for a worthy cause.

Pam and I got to Topton NC on Thrusday the 26th for the Motorcyclist Cafe gathering. The roads in this part of the country are simply amazing. We brought the R12GS in the back of the Tundra for the 1700 mile treck from Arizona.

Did I say that this Smokey Mountain Area, North Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee three corner area is fantastic. Last Sunday we moved over to Doug Bunches place on top of a ridge just out of Morganton, Georgia. Did I say the riding and roads out here are fantastic. I think that clearly a late model R12GS is the perfect bike out here. We will.....unfortunately probably head back to Arizona on Monday.

Oh did I say that we have been very......er......um.... busy.....here....

Bubba, great to meet you in person. Ride safe everyone.

Did I happen to mention how much we enjoyed it out here, another great adventure looms......................